Irvine Valley's baseball team evened its Orange Empire Conference series with Cypress with a 6-5 win on Thursday afternoon at the OC Great Park.
The Lasers left 14 runners on base, including the bases loaded in three of the first four innings.
But IVC recorded hits when it mattered most, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and then three more in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead for good.
Cypress led, 4-1, after five innings, but IVC got back in the game in the sixth. Freshman designated hitter Noah Madole drove in a run with a single and then freshman catcher Connor Tallakson knocked in another with a RBI groundout to get the Lasers within 4-3.
The Chargers added a run in on a solo home run by Eddie Hacopian in the top of the seventh to go ahead, 5-3.
But in the bottom half of the frame, freshman second baseman Nolan Cusey hit an RBI double to get IVC back within a run. The Lasers then tied the game when Tallakson walked with the bases loaded.
Irvine Valley took its first lead of the game when freshman left fieder Jack Haggerty hustled home and scored on a wild pitch.
Freshman left-hander Nate Madole pitched a scoreless eighth inning and freshman righty Austin Chapman closed the game in the ninth to pick up his second save.
Freshman right hander Ryan Barlow earned the win. He battled and kept the Lasers within striking distance. Barlow (3-3) went seven innings and gave up five runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
Tallakson went 1 for 4 with a walk and two RBI, Noah Madole was 2 for 4 with a run and one RBI and Cusey was 2 for 3 with two runs and one RBI.
Cypress was paced by Hacopian and Luke Honikel, who each had three hits and one RBI.
Irvine Valley's record went to 14-14 overall and 3-8 in conference, while Cypress fell to 14-13 overall and 6-5 in conference.
The two teams play again on Saturday at Cypress at noon to finish the series.
